Before I talk about today, let me fill you in on what happened yesterday. I was out early to bring my Mom to the Episcopalian Church Women (at least that’s what I think ECW stands for, related to her) monthly meeting, at around 8 in the morning. I headed back home to quickly work out and then got ready for the morning service. I usually slack off on Sunday mornings, but this morning was different – besides driving my Mom I was also invited to the said morning service, to fill in for their pastor, who had a last minute meeting on the day he usually prepares his message.
When I finally got there, and when I made my way to the podium I was slightly nervous, but I went ahead and gave it all I got. I admitted to this congregation that I wasn’t necessarily prepared as I was resting for the entire week last week (it was the week after our overall Church anniversary), and I only had Scripture for us to discuss. And the scripture we did discuss began at Luke 15 – yes, the entire chapter:
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
After reading this part I pointed out to them that this message was not merely among those in the body of Christ, but for the rest of the world – for ALL of the world, and all of us corrupted by greed, all of us ultimately corrupted by sin. I had to mention that before we went further.
So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Just as the Shepherd left the 99 sheep to find the lost sheep, so Christ left His glory to find us. And, see, just as the Shepherd raised the found sheep on his shoulders, rejoicing, and telling others of his joy, so Christ also does the same to us, when we give Him even the slightest consideration of belief – even the smallest of openings for His goodness to come, that we would ultimately be brought to repentance.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Just as the woman lit a lamp and searched diligently, so Christ shone His light and was intentional is His own search. If we seek Him diligently, it’s only because He was the One who sought us diligently, first. And take note – she not only called her friends, but her neighbors as well. This implies that she was willing to invite those who were at best her acquaintances, if only to celebrate that she found her coin.
Right now as I’m writing about it, it tells me two things – First, as I said yesterday, Christ again calls for celebration for the soul that was found.. but just as the woman understands the value of her coin and does so much to find it, so Christ found value in us, and did so much to find us.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Just as the Father ran off as soon as he saw his son, so Christ – I dare say, the Godhead RAN to us, against waiting for us to reach Him, groveling at His feet – No, we weren’t groveling at all, but He was the One who ran and embraced and kissed us! Just appreciating this now.
I put all of this together, if only to say that before we even had the idea of a Kingdom, much less the notion to have a ‘Kingdom Mindset’; Before we told each other to seek the Kingdom, it was Christ the King – who, at the moment He actually spoke to His disciples about seeking the kingdom was actually HIMSELF the King seeking them. He sought us first!
Ill post this first, before I go any further. I hope to cover more today.
JB's Personal Brain Defragmenter 
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